In the United States and Canada, using TextNow to place a 911 call will connect you to your local emergency dispatch. On this page, you can learn more about how the experience works depending on what kind of device you're using.
| Note: You can also make 911 calls directly from the 'Phone' app on any Android or iOS device, even without Wi-Fi or a TextNow SIM card. |
Android
When you dial 9-1-1 from the TextNow app on an Android phone, it will open the phone's native dialer and place a call to your local emergency dispatch.
iOS
When you dial 9-1-1 from the TextNow app on an iPhone, you will see a "Call 911" button pop up, as shown below. Clicking this button will open the phone's native dialer and place a call to your local emergency dispatch.
Other devices
You can also dial 9-1-1 to place a call to your local emergency dispatch from the TextNow app or website on a computer, tablet, or iPad with a stable Wi-Fi connection. You may be prompted to share your location so the authorities can arrive more quickly.